Golf tee carrying and dispensing device

ABSTRACT

Presented is a device for use by golfers in carrying a quantity of golf tees, and which incorporates means for readily dispensing the golf tees one-by-one when needed by the golfer.

United States Patent [19] Brennan June 24, 1975 1 1 GOLF TEE CARRYINGAND DISPENSING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Edward N. Brennan, 1490 WindsorDr., Thousand Oaks, Calif. 91360 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1973 [2]] Appl.No.: 384,983

[52] US. Cl. 224/5 C; 273/32 D [51] Int. Cl. A45c l/04 [58] Field ofSearch 224/5.4, 5.13, 26 R, 26.2, 224/45.l5; 206/38 R, 37 R, 46 GT, 56AC;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,559 4/1934 Narrow221/310 2,667,906 2/1954 Stiller 206/37 R 3,360,170 12/1967 Scannell eta1 224/5 C 3,412,897 11/1968 Slater 221/309 Primary E.raminerRobert .1.Spar Assistant Examiner1(enneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn .l.Leavitt 57 ABSTRACT Presented is a device for use by golfers in carryinga quantity of golf tees, and which incorporates means for readilydispensing the golf tees one-by-one when needed by the golfer,

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 'One of the items of equipment used bygolfers, both professional and amateur, is the conventional golf tee.

This device is used to support a golf ball at selected' SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION In terms of broad inclusion, the golf carrying anddispensingdevice of the invention comprises a hollow heights above theturf so that the golfer may more I,

readily strike the ball. Golf tees vary in design however the mostcommon golf tee is fabricated from wood or plastic and comprises anelongated body that is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and isprovided with a relatively sharp point at one end and an enlarged andrecessed head at the other end. Overall, the golf tee is about 1% to 2inches long, and because golf tees are susceptible to being lost orbroken, a quantity of them are carried by a golfer while playing a roundof golf.

Additionally, because golf tees are frequently lost or broken, thesupply must continually be replenished from time to time. One of theproblems that is encountered in connectionwith golf tees isthe problemof storage and retrieval. In some instances, golfers place a quantity ofthe golf tees in one of the pockets of their golf bags, and musttherefore walk twenty or thirty feet to where they have deposited theirgolf bag if they have not anticipated the need for a golf tee, or if thetee they have been using has broken. This increases the time that isrequiredfor-a golfer to play a round of holes, and thereby limits thenumber of people that may play a given course on=a given day. With theincrease in popularity of the game of golf, it has become necessary forcountry clubs and golf courses to devise ways 'and means by which morepeople may be served on the course in a given day. Accordingly, anydevice that increases the speed with which a round of golf may be playedhas received immediate acceptance. A good example of such devices isthe'golf cart, whether it be the motorized version capable of carryingtwo or more golfers, or the type that may be pulled by the golfer.

To eliminate the necessity of a golfer returning to his bag to secureanother golf tee, it is preferable that the golf tees be carried by thegolfer at all times. Because the golf tees are elongated and sharp, itis impractical for men to carry a quantity in their trouser pocketsbecause before long the tees will poke through the fabric and eventuallyrip the pocket and be lost. Women generally do not wear clothes havingpockets so an even greater problem is encountered. Accordingly, one ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide a golf tee carryingdevice that may be attached conveniently to a golfers belt, to his golfbag or to a golf cart, so that it is always conveniently accessible, andwhich carries a multiplicity of tees that may be easily withdrawn fromthe device for use.

Golfers as a class tend to dress in colorful clothing. Accordingly,another object of the invention is the provision of a golf carrying anddispensing device which may be tailored to compliment the attire chosenby a golfer on a given day.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be apparent from the followingdescription and the drawings. It is to be understood however that theinvention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described asit may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appendedclaims.

spherical body having a multiplicity of apertures formed in a lower halfthereof so that golf tees disposed within the hollow interior of thespherical carrier will indiscriminately extend through the variousapertures in the sphere whereby the golfer may grasp the shank of a golftee and by gently tugging on the shank, pull the head of the golf teethrough the aperture in the carrier. The carrier is equipped with astrap so that it may be attached conveniently to the belt of the user,to a golf bag, or to a golf cart.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, a portionofthe strap being broken away to reduce its length.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In terms of greater detail, thegolf tee carrier and dispensing device of the invention comprises agenerally spherical body designated generally by the numeral 2, andpreferably fabricated from one of the synthetic resinous materialscommonly called plastics. A plastic material having a flexible andresilient characteristic as opposed to a brittle .characteristic ispreferred. As shown, the golf tee carrier and dispensing device isapproximately actual size and is constructed with an uppersemi-spherical portion 3 and a lower semispherical portion 4 joinedtogether along a median line 6 as illustrated. g

The spherical body is hollow, having a wall thickness of only about onethirty-second inch or less. Addition ally, the hollow spherical body ispreferably molded in a single operation, with the median line 6 definingthe upper and lower halves of the sphere corresponding to the partingline of the mold. It is convenient to so fabricate the device for thereason that the upper and lower halves of the sphere may be different incolor so that a golfer may coordinate his golf tee carrier with theclothes that he is wearing for the day. As illustrated in FIG. 2, theupper half or semi-sphere 3 of the carrier is provided with a wallsection 7 having a slit 8 therein relieved at each end by apertures 9and 9'. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the slit 8 is useful for depositinggolf tees within the interior of the hollow sphere. It has been foundthat when the wall thickness of the sphere is approximately onethirty-second inch it possesses an inherent resilience tending tomaintain a spherical configuration. Nevertheless, when a slit 8 isprovided in the wall, a portion of the wall 7 above the slit may bedeformed slightly and resiliently so as to temporarily enlarge theopening and admit a quantity of tees into the interior of the hollowshell.

The lower half of the sphere is provided with a multiplicity ofapertures 12, each sized so as to be somewhat golf tees project throughthe apertures and depend from the carrier, being held by the headsthereof which are somewhat larger than the apertures.

To support the carrier, the upper half 3 of the sphere is provided witha leather thong 16 having a ring 17 on the end thereof through which abelt may be looped.

Alternatively, the thong may be utilized to tie the carrier to a beltloop or a belt so that the carrier is always readily accessible to thegolfer. The thong passes through an aperture 18 in the upper half of thesphere,

and is retained attached to the sphere by means of a knot 19 formed onthe inner end of the thong.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all that is required for agolfer to have a plentiful and readily accessible supply of tees is todeposit the desired quantity within the hollow interior of the carrierthrough the slit 8 provided for that purpose. The carrier may then beattached to the belt, and whenever a tee is needed, all that is requiredis that the golfer reach around and grasp the shank ofa projecting teeand exert a slight tug thereon. The thickness of the plastic materialfrom which the hollow spherical carrier is fabricated and the size ofthe aperture 12 are correlated to the size of the head 13 of the tee sothat only a gentle tug need be given on the tee to cause the material toelastically expand to permit the tee to be withdrawn. Once withdrawnfrom an aperture, the aperture returns to its normal size and shape.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed to be novel andsought to be protected by letters patent is as follows:

I claim:

1. A golf tee carrier and dispensing device compris- 1. a body having ahollow interior defined entirely by a resiliently deformable wall;

b. means including a slit formed in said wall adapted to selectivelyprovide an opening into the interior of said hollow body through whichan entire golf tee may be inserted into the hollow interior of said bodyfor containment therewithin;

c. means forming a part of said wall for containing a golf teetherewithin and enabling its removal therefrom and including amultiplicity of apertures formed in said wall through each of which theshank of a golf tee contained within the hollow interior of said bodymay freely project and a resilient web surrounding each aperture, eachsaid aperture being proportioned to be slightly smaller than the headofa golf tee so as to normally prevent the tee head from passing throughthe aperture, the resilience of the web surrounding each aperture beingsuch as to permit resilient enlargement of the aperture to permit thetee head to pass through when the shank is pulled; and

d. means secured to said hollow body for suspending the carrier anddispensing device.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which said means forsuspending the golf tee carrier and dispensing device comprises aflexible thong.

3. A golf tee carrier and dispensing device comprisa. a body fabricatedin spherical form from a deformable plastic material and having a hollowinterior defined by a resiliently deformable wall; I

b. means formed in said wall adapted to selectively provide an openinginto the interior of said hollow y;

c. a multiplicity of apertures formed in said wall through each of whichthe shank of a golf tee may freely project; and

d. means secured to said hollow body for suspending the carrier anddispensing device.

4. A golf tee carrier and dispensing device comprisa. a body having ahollow interior defined by a resiliently deformable wall constitutingcomplimentary semi-spheres;

b. a slit formed in one of said semi-spheres adapted to selectivelyprovide an opening into the interior of said hollow body;

c. a multiplicity of apertures formed in the wall in the other of saidsemi-spheres and through each of which the shank of a golf tee mayfreely project; and

d. means secured to said hollow body for suspending the carrier anddispensing device:

1. A golf tee carrier and dispensing device comprising: a. a body havinga hollow interior defined entirely by a resiliently deformable wall; b.means including a slit formed in said wall adapted to selectivelyprovide an opening into the interior of said hollow body through whichan entire golf tee may be inserted into the hollow interior of said bodyfor containment therewithin; c. means forming a part of said wall forcontaining a golf tee therewithin and enabling its removal therefrom andincluding a multiplicity of apertures formed in said wall through eachof which the shank of a golf tee contained within the hollow interior ofsaid body may freely project and a resilient web surrounding eachaperture, each said aperture being proportioned to be slightly smallerthan the head of a golf tee so as to normally prevent the tee head frompassing through the aperture, the resilience of the web surrounding eachaperture being such as to permit resilient enlargement of the apertureto permit the tee head to pass through when the shank is pulled; and d.means secured to said hollow body for suspending the carrier anddispensing device.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, in whichsaid means for suspending the golf tee carrier and dispensing devicecomprises a flexible thong.
 3. A golf tee carrier and dispensing devicecomprising: a. a body fabricated in spherical form from a deformableplastic material and having a hollow interior defined by a resilientlydeformable wall; b. means formed in said wall adapted to selectivelyprovide an opening into the interior of said hollow body; c. amultiplicity of apertures formed in said wall through each of which theshank of a golf tee may freely project; and d. means secured to saidhollow body for suspending the carrier and dispensing device.
 4. A golftee carrier and dispensing device comprising: a. a body having a hollowinterior defined by a resiliently deformable wall constitutingcomplimentary semi-spheres; b. a slit formed in one of said semi-spheresadapted to selectively provide an opening into the interior of saidhollow body; c. a multiplicity of apertures formed in the wall in theother of said semi-spheres and through each of which the shank of a golftee may freely project; and d. means secured to said hollow body forsuspending the carrier and dispensing device.